tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post4882908081475167892..comments2024-03-19T00:21:49.519-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Outermost Aleutian island / WED 12-18-13 / What Charlie rides in 1959 hit / Serengeti speedster / Longhorn's grid rival / Clark's Smallville crush / Adopt-a-thon's adopteesRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14912821628243151182014-01-22T19:31:58.088-05:002014-01-22T19:31:58.088-05:00Re: Aussie Open. I'm not a tennis fan, but hap...Re: Aussie Open. I'm not a tennis fan, but happened to see Ana Ivanovic wipe the court with a muscular Australian gal before moving on to take out Serena. Ms. Ivanovic left me melting into a pool of drool. She is a cutie; a good enough reason to watch women's tennis.<br /><br />As far as hulking, tattooed, brain-scrambled male athletes are concerned, it should surprise no one that I would say GO BRONCOS.Cary in Bouldernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82032183374837290642014-01-22T19:24:30.788-05:002014-01-22T19:24:30.788-05:00I thought this one was pretty easy. Liked the puns...I thought this one was pretty easy. Liked the puns. Surprised at Rex's Med-Challenging rating. But then that just means it took him 2 minutes and 49 seconds instead of 2:33. Me, i did half of it while waiting in a courtroom to be dismissed from jury duty. Finished it off when I thankfully returned home before lunch.<br /><br />Somebody called BAHA did that stoopid song? Huh. What other hits did they have? At least I knew MTA from the old Kingston Trio song. Speaking of old, I remember the old William Holden movie, Stalag 17. To me it seems like such a cultural touchstone that it's hard to believe that someone like @Oldbizmark never heard of the word.<br /><br />For the bagpipes clue I wanted WHINY, but that would've required a major rewrite of the SE corner, I guess.<br /><br />Captcha: alzequ Morant. I know he wrote something I was supposed to read in high school English, but I can't remember what.Cary in Bouldernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7601154324294335942014-01-22T17:26:31.303-05:002014-01-22T17:26:31.303-05:00The IRE/IRAE cross is unfortunate, but the rest of...The IRE/IRAE cross is unfortunate, but the rest of the puzzle made up for it. No problem with ATTU, it's a real place, with a lot of history. <br /><br />14-A brings to mind the wonderful Appalachian Spring and an ear worm I'll enjoy all day. Wanted BAjA men, but they're from the Bahamas, not Cabo.<br /><br />@Waxy - I saw an interview with your Genie; very impressive. She seems genuine and delightful. I will most certainly watch, and will most certainly root for her! She has a group of fans that have given her a stuffed animal every day she plays. That day it was a wombat! <br /><br />4 8s and a pair of 4s will keep in long enough to build up the pot for Spacey.Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07156872089175084024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62045181991165768502014-01-22T15:55:06.979-05:002014-01-22T15:55:06.979-05:00Glad the usual syndiland sanity reigns concerning ...Glad the usual syndiland sanity reigns concerning IRAS, IRE and IRAE. Not sure why certain primetimers are so vitriolic, day after day. In keeping with theme answer 3, far better to light a candle than curse the darkness.<br /><br />Personally, like @DMG, thought this was a fun puzzle.<br /><br />Not usually a tennis fan but will be avidly watching the Aussie Open semis tonight as 19-year old Montrealer Eugenie Bouchard attempts to become the first Canadian woman in forever to reach a grand slam final. GO GENIE! (And, of course, GO HAWKS!)<br /><br />Ugh. Captcha ends with 666. Hope this doesn't mean I'm toast (or a bagel).Waxy in Montrealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75912905831615886532014-01-22T15:11:06.748-05:002014-01-22T15:11:06.748-05:00I TORE through this one and my only write-over was...I TORE through this one and my only write-over was replacing bBc (which I think is A right answer, just not THE right answer) with PBS as the "Downtown Abbey" airer. I was too busy enjoying the long fill, theme and non-theme alike, to notice the short fill that IREd our host and many commenters so. <br /><br />Our B-movie from yesterday's discussion, The Blob, makes a return appearance as SHAPE.<br /><br />Do Condors live only in the ANDES?<br /><br />ACME's story about her beloved PET, AGGIE, tugged at my heart-strings.<br /><br />Geez, a full boat used to be a good hand here.<br />Dirigonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-50132652646076549852014-01-22T15:09:08.370-05:002014-01-22T15:09:08.370-05:00Thought this one a bit of fun, particularly with A...Thought this one a bit of fun, particularly with AWAYWITHWORDS, which is how I see puzzles. <br /><br />My full house is no competition for @spacecraft. Maybe tomorrow!DMGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7761268343231319042014-01-22T15:03:42.126-05:002014-01-22T15:03:42.126-05:00The theme, as well as several other fresh answers,...The theme, as well as several other fresh answers, outshone the areas which IREd certain people. BAHa to all of them!<br /><br />I liked this puzzle, and agree with @Spacey about the baby/bathwater thing.<br /><br />Thanks, @DMG, for the tip about the capcha. But, I only have 4 nines, so @Spacey wins. Strange deck, though, with 9 nines in it...rain forestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61721917471674892922014-01-22T14:15:58.409-05:002014-01-22T14:15:58.409-05:00My misspelled cheeta crossing with "hog' ...My misspelled cheeta crossing with "hog' at 50A morphed into IMPALA/MTA. caTS became generic PETS, and I ALIGHT(ed)INTHEDAwn before DARK.<br /><br />So, because of my troubles in the South, I declare this more like a themed Fripuz in degree of difficulty.<br /><br />I SPEWed reading M&A's definition of XES.<br /><br />I have a friend who goes off ranting about something then apologizes and says she'll "get off her SHOEBOX now."<br /><br />Liked the fire drill answer crossing PYRES. Clever, Mr. Sessa.<br /><br />@Spacey takes the pot.<br /><br />My Capcha: ngsainsu. Oscar nominee for best supporting actor?<br /><br />Go Hawks!<br />Solving in Seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04249420848844874936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82023937239466737632014-01-22T11:14:47.028-05:002014-01-22T11:14:47.028-05:00I fall in with the @Steve J camp: outside of a cou...I fall in with the @Steve J camp: outside of a couple of stinkers a pretty good grid. OFL tends to latch onto those "RAT-"iferous items and worry them like a dog with an old rag, often downplaying the better parts.<br /><br />I think I can understand why. It is frustrating, when one sees how easily a defect can be repaired, to have to stare at it. (Note: "easily" in this case refers to @Rex, not to @me.) It's like my old drill sergeant, when he noticed a smudge on one of my boots during inspection, even though the rest of my gear was in top shape: (jaw almost touching my sternum--he was a head shorter) "Son, when's the last time you rearranged the dirt on your shoes?" Ah, good old KP. To this day, I can't even look at a shrimp.<br /><br />So, chastise ATTU/ATTN and IRE/IRAE to your heart's content, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.<br /><br />Sorry, guys, I got the nuts: five 9's!spacecraftnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30520667038989776992013-12-19T03:03:15.007-05:002013-12-19T03:03:15.007-05:00This week's relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week's relative difficulty ratings. See my 8/1/2009 post for an explanation and my 10/15/2012 post for an explanation of a tweak I've made to my method. In a nutshell, the higher the ratio, the higher this week's median solve time is relative to the average for the corresponding day of the week.<br /><br />All solvers (this week's median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 7:08, 6:13, 1.15, 93%, Challenging<br />Tue 7:27, 8:12, 0.91, 21%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 10:28, 9:56, 1.05, 66%, Medium-Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 4:30, 3:49, 1.18, 95%, Challenging (11th highest ratio of 208 Mondays)<br />Tue 4:56, 5:09, 0.96, 35%, Easy-Medium<br />Wed 6:29, 5:58, 1.09, 73%, Medium-Challengingsanfranman59https://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82192184555059975952013-12-19T00:29:35.459-05:002013-12-19T00:29:35.459-05:00My name IS Anonymnous. Ever heard of Will.i.am? We...My name IS Anonymnous. Ever heard of Will.i.am? Well, I.Am.Anonymous. My album should drop in A.pril.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11917870449749964272013-12-18T21:11:33.429-05:002013-12-18T21:11:33.429-05:00Wow, 11 Anonymous and counting. Too bad you don&#...Wow, 11 Anonymous and counting. Too bad you don't say who you are....Some of you are pretty clever with your comments, some are pedantic (which I sort of like) some are irritating. At the end of the day, I'd like to know who you are. <br />There's always room here for discussion - show your avatar...I dare you.GILL I.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05605766053820226324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-8650031516114157462013-12-18T20:50:05.657-05:002013-12-18T20:50:05.657-05:00@r_c - Yup, typos.@r_c - Yup, typos.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-439144295791239472013-12-18T20:18:09.134-05:002013-12-18T20:18:09.134-05:00@ Anon 8:03 - In my case, and probably others, it ...@ Anon 8:03 - In my case, and probably others, it involves typos not caught the first time around. Self-absorbed has nothing to do with it.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40282550984949758742013-12-18T20:03:55.586-05:002013-12-18T20:03:55.586-05:00can someone explain why so many self-absorbed peop...can someone explain why so many self-absorbed people make comments and then remove them? paranoia? narcissism? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24591111825154010172013-12-18T19:12:35.655-05:002013-12-18T19:12:35.655-05:00This is getting funny...every day I do the puzzle,...This is getting funny...every day I do the puzzle, enjoy it, and then just for laughs check this blog. "What did Rex hate today?" It's always something. Your crankiness is tiring.<br /><br />Anyone who likes birds/birding knows about Attu. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58393432177184154822013-12-18T18:58:56.825-05:002013-12-18T18:58:56.825-05:00@jbergs: I am certain you were joking about the pu...@jbergs: I am certain you were joking about the pudding. Nonetheless, I find myself screaming at the tv when this adage is misquoted. I also once worked with a doctor who misquoted at least once per rounds, but I couldn't scream at her that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Thanks for bringing back memories.quilter1https://www.blogger.com/profile/09569747169212018177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68651443269292127302013-12-18T18:37:40.226-05:002013-12-18T18:37:40.226-05:00I liked it. And AliasZ's additional theme sugg...I liked it. And AliasZ's additional theme suggestions.<br /><br />I had the hardest time with SHOEBOX, changing it several times. Hubster explained it, which made me gasp at the misuse of baseball cards. Our family made 8G from the sale of one card at Hesse Gallery! If it had been thrown at the wall,etc., who knows? Sfingihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903616949048940858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37267819540235818122013-12-18T18:07:58.684-05:002013-12-18T18:07:58.684-05:00Thinking more about the theme answers - I liked th...Thinking more about the theme answers - I liked the way the center one worked sort of as opposites: "AWAY WITH WORDS! Who needs 'em anyway?" vs. A WAY WITH WORDS - what we all treasure in crossword constructors.<br />Carolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971759975067250908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77904151899365394772013-12-18T17:51:33.983-05:002013-12-18T17:51:33.983-05:00I have to laugh at some of the people here who are...I have to laugh at some of the people here who are lauding Rex's harsh criticism as if it were right. Crosswords aren't chemistry, its not science, there is no objective standard. For all we know Rex's harsh critiques could be less about the puzzle and more about him. And don't think critics can't get petty, cause they can and often do.<br /><br />Good day.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-10036082586365655912013-12-18T17:16:18.194-05:002013-12-18T17:16:18.194-05:00Ire is a noun; tee off is a verb; case closed. Ver...Ire is a noun; tee off is a verb; case closed. Verdict: One month in the penalty box.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-64827919811980616702013-12-18T16:47:11.098-05:002013-12-18T16:47:11.098-05:00@retired chemist: Come to think about it, it's...@retired chemist: Come to think about it, it's pretty seldom that an NYT puz seems to get an A from Professor Parker. Perhaps he's tryin to raise the quality of constructioneers, just like you were with yer students.<br /><br />I remember in my last college writing class, on the first paper I got a B+. Then we started tryin to incorporate all the various techniques taught in the class. My papers started gettin mostly low C's, after that. But I somehow managed to get an A on the final big bertha paper, and an A in the course. Teacher seemed to care a lot more about where you ended up, rather than what trouble you were runnin into along the way. That can really mess with yer mind along the way, tho. <br /><br />Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Teachers.<br />Who usually managed to outfox me.<br />M&AM and Alsonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-49740064962655859872013-12-18T16:22:30.186-05:002013-12-18T16:22:30.186-05:00One year I taught Organic Chem, following a very p...One year I taught Organic Chem, following a very popular teacher in Gen. Chem. I found the students ill prepared. I got remarks just about like @Rex did. The most telling was that I "asked questions on tests that were not [directly] from the book or lecture notes." In other words, they actually had to THINK to do well, which they considered unfair.<br /><br />Many of the students did not even realize that their model of education was that they be spoon-fed facts and tested on such. Learning principles and concepts, then applying them in different yet perfectly fair ways was foreign to them - the popular professor had done them an intellectual disservice, as had almost all their prior educational experience.<br /><br />I had to educate the undergraduate dean that I actually knew more about how organic chemistry should be taught and learned than the students did, and showed him by sample tests from other Universities that I wasn't out of line.<br /><br />At the end of the year we gave a nationally standardized exam. My students were well above the national average. I moved on to other duties and Organic fell to a succession of lecturers, all of whom were more popular than I and none of whom were able to take their students above that national average.<br /><br />The moral - I thought Rex's evaluations were excellent. His complainers were cut from the same cloth as mine.retired_chemisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181126754941899228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7194288399801308882013-12-18T16:13:46.387-05:002013-12-18T16:13:46.387-05:00And I think of a blob as "shapeless" rat...And I think of a blob as "shapeless" rather than a shape...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01814666012630494100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86611590949044679952013-12-18T16:10:25.688-05:002013-12-18T16:10:25.688-05:00@Benko @z and @ralph.bunker - If students are comp...@Benko @z and @ralph.bunker - If students are complaining because they are not getting A's, then perhaps they need to review their study habits. Yet, at the same time the teacher might want to review his grading criteria. I had some teachers that were unreasonably harsh when it came to testing and grading. In fact on one test nobody got higher than a B and there were many students who averaged an A. The teacher had an open discussion with the class and everyone, including the teacher, was more enlightened. From that day on the students all studied harder and the teacher graded fairer.<br /><br />Not saying all teachers/students need to do a self-reflection, just relaying a personal experience.<br /><br />Also - I checked out the teacher rating site. It does not have a log in so I would not think those ratings are all truthful.Birdnoreply@blogger.com